SCHOOL COUNSELOR

Description

BEACON ACADEMY OF NEVADA

School Academic Counselor
Job Description

Under the direct supervision of the Executive Director of Academics, this position will provide secondary school guidance and counseling services, programs and activities conducted at, and for, Beacon Academy of Nevada.

The school counselor will implement the comprehensive guidance and counseling program according to the State of Nevada School Counseling Program Student Standards which are aligned with the national standard set forth by the American School Counselors Association (ASCA). The employee, utilizing leadership, advocacy, and collaboration, will participate in a school counseling program that promotes and enhances academic achievement, personal/social growth, and career development for all secondary students. 

Term of Employment: 12 Month per Contract of Employment

Salary: The compensation for this position is in alignment with the BANV Governing Board approved Salary Schedule; Salary Schedule based on years’ experience and degree held.  Compensation for all positions are determined by the Governing Board and Administration of Beacon Academy.  Consideration is given for experience and specialized skills in determining salary.

Classification:  Salary Exempt

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Deliver a system of individual student planning, responsive services, and system support within the guidance curriculum.
2. Maintain confidentiality and accurate student records using the Student Information System and Learning Management System.
3. Maintain accurate, complete, and correct records as required by law, corporation policy, and administrative regulations.
4. Develop, review and revise student course schedules on a quarterly basis.
5. In conjunction with students and parents, develop, review and revise individual student graduation plans at minimum two times per year.
6. Review and maintain accurate transcripts by assisting students with appropriate course selection and placement to fulfill high school graduation requirements.
7. Assist students attain career and college readiness goals, including credit recovery, advanced diplomas, ACT / SAT readiness and enrollment, monitoring GPA.
8. Assist students with investigating college, university and career and technical schools, scholarship options, and financial aid information in an effort to develop post-secondary options.
9. Assist students with acquiring skills and maximizing their personal and social development.
10. Conduct parent and student conferences in accordance with school policies regarding issues related to low academic performance.
11. Conduct goal-oriented counseling, responsive to identified student needs, relative to student achievement and school success.
12. Collaborate with school personnel to assist students with developing skills that support academic achievement, high school graduation, and lifelong learning.
13. Support the school improvement process and assist in the implementation of school improvement goals.
14. Work closely with school staff and administration to maintain an effective school counseling program.
15. Attend required job-related meetings, activities, and ongoing professional development.
16. Work professionally with administration, staff, parents and community.
17. Comply with school policies and regulations as well as state and federal laws.
18. Abide by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Code of Ethics. 
19. Provide knowledge, advice and counseling skills regarding the institutional student graduation process.
20. Counsel students on graduation requirements, deficiencies in grade points and various problems.
21. Determines that degree requirements are fulfilled for graduation as well as verifying that candidates meet program designation requirements.
22. Process all undergraduate degree plans and applications for graduation.
23. Keeps abreast of changing state and catalog regulations concerning degree plans.
24. Assists in arranging commencement exercises.
25. Prepare reports and survey questionnaires.
26. Has a willingness and capability to work beyond the normal workday.
27. Attendance and participation at student/parent meetings and graduation is required.
28. Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Maintain professional competence.
2. Effective oral and communications skills.
3. Proficiency and understanding of computer technology and ability to learn programs.
4. Ability to maintain confidentiality of information.
5. Ability to judge when to act independently and when to refer situations to an administrator.
6. Ability to judge potentially dangerous and/or unsafe situations and respond appropriately.
7. Ability to recognize and appreciate cultural differences, and maintain respect for culturally different backgrounds.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

1. Education: A graduate degree in school counseling and a current Nevada license as a secondary school counselor.
2. Writing/Communication Skills - Excellent use of the English language, excellent writing skills (correspondence through email is an essential component; recommend at least 30 wpm).
3. Computer Skills - Must be computer literate and extremely familiar with online/blended technologies. Must be adept at word processing, email, search engines, and web browsing.

Physical Demands:

The physical requirements indicated below are examples of the physical aspects that a person holding this position must perform in carrying out essential job functions.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential job duties.

1. Sufficient vision to read printed material, see distance objects with clarity, identify and distinguish objects, and be visually observant of classroom behavior and learning activities.
2. Sufficient hearing to hear conversations in person and on the telephone, hear sounds clearly up to 20 feet and be cognizant of verbal altercations in the classroom.
3. Ability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversation and on the telephone, and in addressing groups.
4. Ability to exert up to 25 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects; ability to occasionally restrain or move up to 50-100 pounds if required to intervene during student safety issues.
5. This type of work requires occasional or frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, or reaching for extended periods of time.
6. This type of work requires occasional or frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling during crisis scenarios such as hard lockdowns, earthquake drills, etc.
7. Sufficient manual dexterity and/or mobility to grasp and/or manipulate objects, operate mechanical equipment, and move about the work area.
8. Ability to operate, activate and use a computer and other office productivity machinery such as a calculator, copy machine and printer.
9. Employees in this classification may be subject to work environments that have exposure to weather or interiors with extremes of heat and/or cold, wet and/or humid conditions, temperature fluctuations, high noise levels, and various work related hazards such as bloodborne pathogens or other potentially infectious materials.

Disclaimers

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Beacon Academy of Nevada is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. 

Beacon Academy of Nevada does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, disabilities, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran’s status or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.  We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 Accommodations

Individuals with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations in order to apply or maintain employment, should contact Beacon Academy of Nevada’s Department of Human Resources at 702.726.8600.